What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Pend Oreille?

Lake Pend Oreille carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Idaho's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, and Lake trout. One of them reads: "Kamloops rainbow trout + Gerrard rainbow trout + lake trout + kokanee salmon + bull trout fishery; ID state-record rainbow trout 37 lb 0 oz Pend Oreille 1947 (historically world-record-class inland rainbow trout); trout 6 / day combined; kokanee salmon 6 / day; lake trout (Mackinaw) IDFG-managed suppression program to protect native bull trout (federally Threatened ESA); bull trout 0 / day catch-and-release-only." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Pend Oreille?

Yes. Lake Pend Oreille is in Idaho, so a valid Idaho fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Pend Oreille; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Idaho rules.

Do Lake Pend Oreille's special rules replace Idaho's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Idaho's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Pend Oreille by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Lake Pend Oreille?

Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, and Lake trout have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Pend Oreille, each linking to its full Idaho regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Idaho limits.

2026 regulation year

Lake Pend Oreille 2026 — Idaho Fishing Regulations

Idaho statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 4, 2026

Lake Pend Oreille carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Idaho's 2026 fishing rules — covering Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, Lake trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Kamloops rainbow trout + Gerrard rainbow trout + lake trout + kokanee salmon + bull trout fishery; ID state-record rainbow trout 37 lb 0 oz Pend Oreille 1947 (historically world-record-class inland rainbow trout); trout 6 / day combined; kokanee salmon 6 / day; lake trout (Mackinaw) IDFG-managed suppression program to protect native bull trout (federally Threatened ESA); bull trout 0 / day catch-and-release-only
Source: Idaho special-water list

Per-species rules on Lake Pend Oreille

Rainbow trout regulations →
6 / day combined; ID state-record rainbow trout 37 lb 0 oz Pend Oreille 1947; Kamloops + Gerrard rainbow trout strain produces 20+ lb fish consistently
Kokanee salmon regulations →
6 / day; kokanee recovered via IDFG lake trout (Mackinaw) suppression + Angler Incentive Program; forage base for trophy Kamloops + Gerrard rainbow trout
Lake trout regulations →
No daily limit (IDFG Mackinaw-suppression + Angler Incentive Program); harvest encouraged to protect kokanee + trophy rainbow trout

Official source

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) publishes the authoritative 2026 Idaho fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Idaho fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Idaho Department of Fish and Game's emergency-order feed — check it before any Idaho trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Idaho

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Pend Oreille?: Lake Pend Oreille carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Idaho's statewide 2026 rules, covering Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, and Lake trout. One of them reads: "Kamloops rainbow trout + Gerrard rainbow trout + lake trout + kokanee salmon + bull trout fishery; ID state-record rainbow trout 37 lb 0 oz Pend Oreille 1947 (historically world-record-class inland rainbow trout); trout 6 / day combined; kokanee salmon 6 / day; lake trout (Mackinaw) IDFG-managed suppression program to protect native bull trout (federally Threatened ESA); bull trout 0 / day catch-and-release-only." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Pend Oreille?: Yes. Lake Pend Oreille is in Idaho, so a valid Idaho fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Pend Oreille; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Idaho rules.
Do Lake Pend Oreille's special rules replace Idaho's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Idaho's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Pend Oreille by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Lake Pend Oreille?: Rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, and Lake trout have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Pend Oreille, each linking to its full Idaho regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Idaho limits.

← Back to Idaho regulations overview